[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 64 (Thursday, May 9, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E748]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            A TRIBUTE TO THE MOTHERS OF ST. PAUL AME CHURCH

                                 ______


                          HON. DONALD M. PAYNE

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                         Wednesday, May 8, 1996

  Mr. PAYNE of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, this weekend mothers all over 
the country will be honored. On Saturday, in my district, a special 
tribute is being paid to the mothers of the St. Paul African Methodist 
Episcopal Church in East Orange, NJ, pastored by the Reverend Donald C. 
Luster.
  In the African-American community, our female elders are honored with 
the title of mother. The women being honored by St. Paul's are all at 
least 80 years old and have served their families, our community, and 
the church faithfully for many, many years. These women have seen 
history in the making. They have made sacrifices so that others would 
be better off.
  Our communities were better off because of women like these who 
treated all children like their own. It was not unusual for ``Miss 
Rose'' to reprimand you for something you did wrong and then tell your 
mother about it when she came home from work. These women were the 
strength of our communities. In many cases, they were, and still are, 
our salvation.
  Mr. Speaker, reading the biographies of these women is like reading a 
copy of Who's Who. The group contains business owners, educators, a 
nurse, those active in politics, and seamstresses but most important, 
they are all mothers. They are mothers who love their children, their 
grandchildren, their great grandchildren, and their great-great 
grandchildren. And all of these children love them.
  Mr. Speaker, I am sure my colleagues will join me as I offer my best 
wishes to all mothers, especially to the honorees--Mrs. Ophelia Love 
Achoe, Mrs. Armeller Brown, Mrs. Lucretia F. Counts, Mrs. Edith Cowan, 
Mrs. Ethel Green, Mrs. Alma Powell Gamble, Mrs. Alma Jones, Mrs. Luella 
Powell Koonce, Mrs. Era Worthy, Mrs. Florence V. Luster, Mrs. Daisy 
Tolliver--and their families.

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